In 2023, the population aged 65 or older in South Korea made up approximately 19 percent of the total population. The share of older people in the total population has almost tripled in the last two decades.

As of 2024, more than four million South Koreans were aged 75 or older. The total number of elderly is expected to more than double between 2020 and 2072. The demographics of South Korea are expected to change significantly in the coming years. Thirty years from now, the number of children and people aged 15 to 64 is estimated to drop by a third, while the number of older people is believed to double. Meanwhile, the total population is expected to drop by more than four million people by this time.

Author: Michael Robinson, educatorGrade/Audience: high school, ap human geography, professional developmentResource type: lessonSubject topic(s): population, human geographyRegion: asiaStandards: AP Human Geography Connection 2.9 Aging Populations - Explain the causes and consequences of an aging population. An aging population has political, social, and economic consequences, including the dependency ratio. Objectives: The student will identify the leading causes of death in South Korea. The student will describe the growing aging population in South Korea. The student will explain how South Korea is dealing with the aging population. The student will describe and explain possible ways of supporting the growing elderly population in South Korea. Summary: South Korea has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, which has led to a growing aged population. The number of persons over 65 is projected to continue to rise, and with the increase there are social issues the government must address. The lesson has students analyzing graphs and maps from The Atlas of Korea to identity, describe, and explain aging of the population of South Korea. Students will listen to a news report and read an editorial to help them determine solutions to this growing problem in South Korea.

Korea Population: as % of Total: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 13.914 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 13.436 % for 2016. Korea Population: as % of Total: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 5.017 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.914 % in 2017 and a record low of 3.416 % in 1960. Korea Population: as % of Total: Aged 65 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population ages 65 and above as a percentage of the total population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average;

In 2023, there were approximately 2.1 million people aged 65 years and older in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Seoul followed with about 1.7 million. The total number of people aged 65 and older was around 9.7 million that year.

In 2023, Jeonnam Province had the highest proportion of people aged 65 and over in South Korea, with the elderly making up more than 26 percent of South Korea's total population. Gyeongbuk followed with around 24.7 percent.

Korea Population: Male: Aged 15-64 data was reported at 19,097,096.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 19,085,917.000 Person for 2016. Korea Population: Male: Aged 15-64 data is updated yearly, averaging 14,525,334.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19,097,096.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 6,642,501.000 Person in 1960. Korea Population: Male: Aged 15-64 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population between the ages 15 to 64. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum;

Korea Population: Male: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 3,061,571.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,931,222.000 Person for 2016. Korea Population: Male: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 790,569.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,061,571.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 351,528.000 Person in 1960. Korea Population: Male: Aged 65 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population 65 years of age or older. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum;

Graph and download economic data for Population ages 65 and above for the Republic of Korea (SPPOP65UPTOZSKOR) from 1960 to 2023 about 65-years +, Korea, and population.

Korea Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 0-14 data was reported at 12.991 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.148 % for 2016. Korea Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 0-14 data is updated yearly, averaging 25.741 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 42.567 % in 1962 and a record low of 12.991 % in 2017. Korea Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 0-14 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 0 to 14 as a percentage of the total female population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

This data package includes the underlying data to replicate the charts and calculations presented in Migration or stagnation: Aging and economic growth in Korea today, the world tomorrow, PIIE Working Paper 24-18.

If you use the data, please cite as:

Clemens, Michael. 2024. Migration or stagnation: Aging and economic growth in Korea today, the world tomorrow. PIIE Working Paper 24-18. Washington: Peterson Institute for International Economics.

In 2023, the share of the population aged 65 years and above in Seoul, South Korea reached around 18.5 percent of Seoul's population, up from about 17.6 percent in the previous year. The share of the elderly in Seoul has steadily increased throughout the surveyed period.

Korea Population: Female: Aged 0-14 data was reported at 3,340,339.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3,365,856.000 Person for 2016. Korea Population: Female: Aged 0-14 data is updated yearly, averaging 5,285,687.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6,609,626.000 Person in 1972 and a record low of 3,340,339.000 Person in 2017. Korea Population: Female: Aged 0-14 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 0 to 14. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Working-Age Population Total: From 15 to 64 Years for Korea (LFWA64TTKRM647N) from Jun 1999 to Jan 2025 about working-age, Korea, 15 to 64 years, and population.

According to estimates for 2025, there will be 199.9 older adults for every 100 young people in South Korea. This ratio is expected to more than triple by 2072.

Graph and download economic data for Age Dependency Ratio: Older Dependents to Working-Age Population for the Republic of Korea (SPPOPDPNDOLKOR) from 1960 to 2023 about 64 years +, working-age, Korea, ratio, and population.

Age dependency ratio, young (% of working-age population) in South Korea was reported at 15.52 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Age dependency ratio, young (% of working-age population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Korea Population: Female: Aged 15-64 data was reported at 18,273,722.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 18,278,839.000 Person for 2016. Korea Population: Female: Aged 15-64 data is updated yearly, averaging 14,320,007.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18,278,839.000 Person in 2016 and a record low of 6,714,569.000 Person in 1960. Korea Population: Female: Aged 15-64 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 15 to 64. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

This map shows where senior populations are found throughout the world. Areas with more than 10% seniors are highlighted with a dark red shading while a dot representation reveals the number of seniors and their distribution in bright red.This dataset is comprised of multiple sources. All of the demographic data are from Michael Bauer Research with the exception of the following countries:Australia: Esri Australia and MapData ServicesCanada: Esri Canada and EnvironicsFrance: Esri FranceGermany: Esri Germany and NexigaIndia: Esri India and IndicusJapan: Esri JapanSouth Korea: Esri Korea and OPENmateSpain: Esri España and AISUnited States: Esri Demographics

North Korea KP: Population: Male: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 851,823.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 867,607.000 Person for 2016. North Korea KP: Population: Male: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 257,841.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 869,969.000 Person in 2015 and a record low of 117,891.000 Person in 1960. North Korea KP: Population: Male: Aged 65 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s North Korea – Table KP.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population 65 years of age or older. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum;